Vol. 54—2000 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

ASEEDGERMrnNATION PROTOCOL
FORMILE-A-MINUTE (POLYGONUMPERFOUAIUML.) 1
Wu, x: W. L. Bruckart ', R. A. Creager', and M. R. Gale 2
ABSTRACT
Mile-a-minuteseedswerecollectednearBoaz,WestVirginia,in October1998.Seeds were
air-driedat roomtemperaturefor 18days.Theywerethenplacedin airtightcontainersandstoredat
threetemperatures:roomtemperature, 4-SoCin a refrigerator,or at -2 to _3°ein a freezer.Afterfive
mooths of storage (March 1999) samples of one-hundred mature, intact seeda from each storage
temperaturewere removedmonthlyandplantedin a 17x17x6em flatofBacto ProfessionalPlanting
Mix (65.75% horticultura1 sphagnum peat, 34.25% perlite, pH 5.5-6.5). The planting mix was then
moistenedandunsealedflatswereplacedin a refrigeratorat 4-SoCto stratifytheseeds.When
seedlings emerged in any flat, all threeflats in that sample period were removed from the
refrigeratorandplacedatroomtemperature.Theseflatswereobservedfortwo weeksat room
temperatureandgenninationrateswererecorded.Eachflatthenwasreturnedto therefrigeratorfor
additional stratification. In a separate study, one hundred seeda were planted and stratified
immediately after the 18-day air-dry period. Seedling emergence wasnot observed in the
refrigerator, but good emergence (86%, Figure I) resulted after moving to room temperature in
March 1999.
Seedsstoredatroomtemperaturebeforestratificationhadgerminationratesfrom34%to
86%, and length of stratification varied from 4 to 19 weeks. Germination rate decreased from March
to September, as did the period for stratification (Figure I). Seeda stored under refrigeration had
germination rates of 10'10(flat # 2-2) after 13 weeks (in June, 1999) of stratification, and 4% after 16
weeks (in July, 1999) of stratification, respectively, which were the only two months seedlings
appeared. Seeda stored in the freezer had germination rates of I% after 13 weeks (in June, 1999) of
stratification and 16% after 16 weeks (in July, 1999) of stratification, respectively, also the only two
months seedlings appeared. New seedlings appeared in flat #2-2 in October 1999 after an additional
28 weeks ofstratitication.It'sgerminationrateincreasedby 60010to total70%overall.
Germinationof Mile-a-minute seedsstoredatroomtemperaturebeforestratificationwas
fasterandmorereliablethanforseedsstoredat coolertemperaturesaccordingto thisprotocol.Milea-minuteseedsmaygerminatein
thefallundercontrolledcondition,basedon experiencewith flat
#2-2. Plansareto continuethisstudywithseedscollectedin 1998andto initiatea new test with
seeda harvested in 1999.
I TheUSDA ForestService.ForestHealthTechnologyEnterpriseTeam.Morgantown,WV 26505. fundsthisresearch.
2 ResearchScientistandAssociateProfessor,Schoolof ForestryandWoodProducts,MichiganTech.Univ. Houghton,
MI 49931. Thecorrespondingauthoris currentlylocatedatUSDA ForestService,ForestHeahhTechnologyEnterprise
Team.Morgantown,WV 26505
3 ResearchPlantPathologistandPlantPathologistrespectively.USDA~ARS. ForeignDisease-WeedScienceResearch
Unit,FortDetrick.,MD 21702
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